ABSTRACT
The fertility rate in Japan has been declining for a long period of time, and the Japanese population is rapidly ageing. Changes in the next 25 years may be dramatic; it is expected that the working-age population in Japan will decline by 17 million by 2030, and that Japan will face a serious labour shortage. In addition to labour shortage in the economy as a whole, shortage in certain sectors, such as elderly-care, is expected to be extremely severe and therefore it is argued that Japan should accept migrant workers in such industries.
